President Lai: 100 Billion NTD Plan to Support SMEs, Aiming for 1 Million Smart Enterprises by 2040

President Lai Ching-te announced today that the government will launch a 100 billion NTD plan to accelerate the upgrade and transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traditional industries. This plan will be integrated with the "New Ten Major AI Construction" projects, with the goal of assisting 1 million SMEs in achieving smart transformation and enhancing their competitiveness by 2040. During a meeting at the Presidential Office with the "Taiwan Factory Management Guidance and Sustainable Development Association" and the "Republic of China Specific Factory Association," President Lai stated that Taiwan's economic achievements are due to the hard work of factory owners, masters, and laborers. President Lai noted that in his two-year inauguration speech, he mentioned that Taiwan's economic growth rate reached 8.68% last year, and the first quarter of this year hit 13.69%, a 39-year high. The government is actively promoting the "Multiple Revitalization and Development Program for SMEs" to assist businesses in digital transformation, net-zero transitions, and upgrades, including preferential loans, R&D subsidies, and assistance in securing overseas orders. President Lai promised that the government will act as a backer for the industry, providing support in funding, technology, transformation, and market development.